in Burgundy. 7. The Huns in Hungary. 8. The Ostrogoths in Moesia. 9. The Lombards in Pannonia. 10. The Vandals in Africa.

The prophet Daniel further informs us, that "he "considered the horns, and behold there came up " among them another little horn, before whom "there were three of the first horns plucked up

66

by the roots and behold in this horn were eyes "like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things."-Daniel was afterwards told by the angel, that this horn "should be diverse from "the first." "And he shall speak great words "against the Most High, and shall wear out the "saints of the Most High, and think to change "times and laws."

Now, it was the opinion of the fathers, that this little horn represented the same power, as the man of sin and son of perdition, mentioned in St. Paul's prophecy. But since the man of sin has been proved to be the Papacy, if the above sentiment of the fathers be right, then it must follow, that the little horn is also the representative of the Papal power. Let us inquire therefore, how far his character corresponds with that power. The little horn was diverse from the others, i. e.

he was an anomalous power, and essentially different from the ten secular horns or governments. And is it not true of the Papacy, that its character was in like manner anomalous? All the other governments of the Roman empire are secular; but the Papacy is a spiritual dominion, and therefore diverse from the rest. The little horn had eyes like a man; this may denote its cunning and policy. And is it not true, that the Papacy was peculiarly distinguished for cunning and policy? But the eyes of the horn may be intended to point out also, the episcopal character of the power which it represents, the Greek word, exiroños, literally signifying an overseer. The little horn had a mouth speaking great things.—And 'have we not seen from the historical details contained in the last chapter, that such was the character of the Papacy, which made the whole world resound with its high and blasphemous pretensions? It is further said of the little horn, that he shall speak great words against the Most High. And did not the Papal power speak great words against the Most High, when it gave its support to idolatry, and rebelled against its lawful sovereign, because he commanded the destruction of idols ?When it claimed a power to dethrone kings, to absolve men from their oaths of allegiance, and thus assumed

authority, which belongs to God and Christ only ? The little horn was also to wear out the saints of the Most High, and to think to change times and laws. And has not the Papacy caused to be murdered, thousands and ten thousands of the saints of God, because they fearlessly exposed its corruptions, and refused to bow their necks to its spiritual authority?* Did it not organize that infer

* When, at the era of the Reformation, Pope Adrian the sixth, a well meaning Pontiff wished to introduce a reform into the Court of Rome itself; he was dissuaded from it, by Cardinal Francis Soderini, Bishop of Preneste, who among other reasons, used the following:-"That there was no hope of "confounding or destroying the Lutherans by a reformation. "of the Court of Rome. That on the contrary, it was the "true way to give them more credit, for if the people, which "always judges by the event, were to see a reformation be"gun, they would suppose that since there had been good "cause to oppose some abuses, there was room for believing "that the other novelties proposed by Luther were well found«ed.”—“ That in reading the history of past ages, it may be "seen that the heretics who had rebelled against the authori"ty of the Church of Rome, had always founded their argu "ments upon the corrupt manners of the Papal Court. Still "however, the Popes had never thought it would be of any

use to introduce a reform, but had satisfied themselves, after "employing exhortations and remonstrances, with engaging "Princes to protect the church."-" That heresies had never

nal tribunal the Inquisition, which has emulated in atrocity, the character of wicked spirits? Has it not by trampling on all laws divine and human,

"been put an end to by reformation, but by Crusades, and "by exciting sovereigns and nations to extirpate them. "That it was by these means that Innocent the third had hap"pily extinguished that of the Albigenses in Languedoc, and "his successors had employed no others against the Walden

ses, the Picards," &c.—" That it would be impossible to "effect any reform, without diminishing considerably the ❝ ecclesiastical revenues which were derived from four sources, "the one temporal, viz. the Domains of the State; the three "others spiritual, namely, indulgences, dispensations, and the "collation of benefices, and that none of these could be dried "up without occasioning to the Holy See, a loss of a fourth "of its revenues." The above is extracted from the work of a Catholic writer of great authority. Histoire du Concile de Trente Par Fra Paolo Sarpi, Tome I. p. 42, 43.

That the reader may know the nature of that revenue which would have been dried up by any Reformation at Rome, I shall here insert from Mr. G. Sharpe's Inquiry concerning the Roman Babylon, an Extract by Sir Richard Steel, from the "Taxa Camera seu Cancellariæ Apostolica," printed about the beginning of the sixteenth century, by "authority of the "then Pope, being a Table of the Fees paid him for Absolu"tions, Dispensations, Licences, Indulgences, Faculties, and "exemptions."

"The price of a Pardon or Absolution for a "Layman that stole holy or consecrated things "out of a Holy Place, is rated at,

£0 10 6

thought to change times and laws? The apostle saw three of the first horns rooted out before the little horn. Accordingly history testifies, that

"For a Priest that restores not to the "Church the holy things he took away,

"For a Priest for the vice of simony, "For a Layman for murthering a Layman, "For him that killeth his father, (or mother, or wife, or sister, or kinswoman :These are all separate articles-to the last of which is added, "if they be of the laity, are “ rated at no more but 10s. 6d. and his letters "of absolution will cost him 10s. 6d. But if "the party slain be a clerk, or priest, or clergy

man, then the murtherer is bound to go to "Rome and visit the Apostolic See.)

"For a Priest or Clergyman that keeps a con"cubine; and also his Dispensation to save him "from being irregular,

"For him that lyeth with his own mother (or "sister, or god-mother,)

And among the Dispensations;

"To marry in the first degree of consangui“nity,

0

10 6

0 10 6

7 6

0 10

6

0 10 6

Pope Leo X. having in the year 1517, published a sale of plenary Indulgences, made a grant of the Revenues to arise therefrom, within the electorate of Saxony, to his sister Magdalen, married to Cibo, natural son of Pope Innocent VIII. who in consequence of that marriage had made Leo a Car